Legal expert Salman Akram Raja has said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s disqualification will end if his conviction is suspended in the Toshakhana criminal case.

“This decision is unprecedented. He [Khan] was not given the right to present his witness. The case has also technical issues as the Election Commission was to file a complaint in 120 days, which did not happen. There are several technical errors based on which this sentence should be overturned,” he told Munizae Jahangir during his appearance on Spot Light.

He was of the view that the evidence presented against the PTI chief in the Toshakhana criminal case cannot prove that he was involved in corrupt practices.

Responding to a question regarding the similarities between the cases of Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan, he said that it is an age-old routine to disqualify prime ministers.

“It is an easy way to use the judicial system to wipe out a political force. It has been done before and still continuing to this day,” Raja said.

He stated that the digital census 2023 was completed in May, but was not presented before the Council of Common Interests.

“It was deliberately delayed only to be approved on August 5. So there was a plan according to which it was done,” Raja added.

PML-N’s Rana Maqbool said that the PTI chief did not appear before the court despite several orders by the judge who was hearing the Toshakhana case.

“Nawaz Sharif never disobeyed the court. He would come to the court on a daily basis from Lahore. He [Imran Khan] did not care and did not obey the court,” he added.

Talking about the upcoming elections, Maqbool said that on-time national polls are in the interest of all political parties and the country.

However, he added that the elections will be held in February next year after the CCI approved the census 2023 and ECP will have to delimit electoral constituencies afresh.

“Elections should be held before the Senate elections. 50% of the Senators would be gone and there will be no lower and upper house. This is why it is essential that elections are held on time,” he remarked.

PPP’s Naz Baloch said that her party has always called for holding the elections on time while expressing hope that the polls will be held in November this year.

“There is no doubt that 2023 is an election year. No one can defend the delay in holding the census and delimitation on time. I think all political parties need to play their role in ensuring timely elections,” she added.

She said that the interim setups’ tenures in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab were extended as all the political parties in the Parliament agreed that Punjab will have an influence on general elections as the province has more seats on the national assembly.